Petrelis Files

Iran to Execute Two Gays on Aug 27; Rice Asked for Condemnation

[The following letter was today faxed to 1-202-647-2293, which is Secretary Rice's fax number.]

Secretary Condoleezza Rice
U.S. State Department
Washington, DC

Re: Iran's upcoming execution of two homosexuals

Dear Secretary Rice:

A story on the PeykeIran.com Farsi language news site
reports that Iran is scheduled to execute two
homosexuals by hanging on August 27. The story is
located at
http://web.peykeiran.com/new/iran/iran_news_body.aspx?ID=25617
.

I asked two individuals who speak Farsi to translate
the article, and, independent of each other, they
provided me with the following translations:

First translation: "According to Islamic Republic
officials in Arak city (a city close to Tehran) two
more gays have been condemned to death by hanging.
They are being held in Arak city at the moment. The
two are, Farid Mostaar and Ahmad Choka and they are
scheduled to be hanged by August 27th in the city's
main public square."

The second translation: "According to a report, two
people have been convicted of homosexuality in an Arak
court and sentenced to be hanged. At present, the two,
Farid Mostaar and Ahmad Chooka are held in Arak. The
Islamic regime has announced the two will be publicly
hanged on 5 Shahrivar (27 August), in one of Arak's
squares/roundabouts. A little while ago, the Islamic
republic hanged two people convicted of homosexuality
in Khorasan province, which aroused the protests of
the international community."

Even though the U.S. does not maintain diplomatic
relations with Iran, you have spoken out on many
occasions about matters of concern related to
relations between Iran and the United States.

Based on the PeykeIran.com news account about Iran's
anticipated killing of the two homosexuals, Farid
Mostaar and Ahman Chooka, in Arak on August 27, I ask
that you denounce in the strongest terms possible the
planned executions and call on other nations to join
with the U.S. to demand Iran immediately cease such
state-sanctioned killings.

A prompt reply is formally requested.

Sincerely,
Michael Petrelis

cc:
Henry T. Wooster, US State Dept's Iran Desk
Leslie M. Phillips, US State Dept's Press Office